Anton Marcus and the Kieswetter’s Ridgemont operation celebrated the resumption of their partnership with two devastating performances from Brett Crawford-trained Australian breds at Kenilworth yesterday.

Boomps A Daisy, such an expensive flop at Durbanville last month, got them off to the perfect start when easily justifying odds of 6-10 in the TAB Telebet Maiden. Marcus had no problem taking it up a furlong and a half out and the favourite quickly drew clear to win easing up by three and a quarter lengths.

Marcus, making a joking reference to the filly’s name, said: “Thank God there wasn’t any!” before adding: “This is what I anticipated after her first run but unfortunately she got lost that day at Durbanville. She may not have beaten much but I like the way she did it.”

Crawford, who had expressed doubts beforehand, said: “I think she appreciated being back at Kenilworth – she broke on terms, travelled well and she quickened up really nicely when Anton pressed the button. He is adamant that I must keep her down the straight for now but we have quite a bit to work on and this was encouraging.”

Craig Carey, the Kieswetter family’s racing manager, picked her out for AUS $360,000 at the 2017 Melbourne Premier Sale and said: “She was small but athletic and the sort I like – face like a beauty queen and a bum like a barmaid!”

Run Fox Run was even more impressive and, amazingly, she started odds against. She had won her only two previous starts with ease – but not as easily as she did under a seven point penalty in the Interbet.co.za Handicap.

Marcus allowed her to go clear fully two furlongs from home but in the closing stages his most vigorous movements were repeated looks back at the outclassed opposition.

He said: “That was self-explanatory but looks-wise and maturity-wise she is going the right way.”

Crawford added: “There is not a lot of her and I have never really put the hammer down and tested her. Indeed I never work her with another horse. She has the potential of getting black type which is the objective. She won’t go to Durban but we will go through the races here as we find them and the Cape season will be the main aim.”

Getting Depeche home in front in the 2 000m handicap was beyond even Marcus – third to M.J. Byleveld on Mike Robinson’s Transylvania was the best he could do and on the Joey Ramsden-trained Arabian Air in the Tellytrack.com Handicap he was only fourth. But he was lucky to return in one piece.

In the dramatic, and highly dangerous, closing stages Craig Zackey on the winner Vardy switched his whip to his outside hand and his mount promptly veered away from it and Marcus had to snatch up to avoid being brought down. At the same time Robert Khathi on third-placed Trip To The Sky switched his stick from his right hand to his left and runner-up Russet Air (Corne Orffer) was repeatedly bounced from one to the other like an overworked ping pong ball. Zackey was given seven days and Khathi looks like getting a similar suspension.

By Michael Clower

NHA CEO Vee Moodley emphasised that the handicapping guidelines are “guidelines not rules” and added a press release would be sent out whenever there had been a deviation from the guidelines.

A press release was sent out explaining the merit rated changes made after the running of the SA Derby and SA Oaks and it was clear to all who know the guidelines that the handicappers had deviated.

The NHA have risked opening a can of worms as there was no warning given at nomination stage that one particular guideline would be deviated from for the first time since its inception in 2012.

There have been three “updates” to the handicapping guidelines this decade.

In the June 2012 update one of the points stated, “Grade 1 & 2 races Upward Adjustment to first 5 finishers only.”

However, in the merit rating changes made after last weekend, the Grade 1 SA Derby 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th placed horses were all adjusted upward and the Grade 2 SA Oaks 6th placed horse was adjusted upward.

The press release wording relevant to the SA Derby stated, “In other changes, SENOR LIZARD was raised from 85 to 88, ARLINGTONS REVENGE goes up from 80 to 84, MASTER MAGIC was raised from 80 to 84, ZANAKI goes up from 78 to 83, and LAST OF THE LEGEND was upped from 78 to 81.  These horses finished from 5th place to 9th, and in doing this it is ensured that these five horses would meet one another on the correct weight terms in a handicap race.  This satisfies the definition of a handicap.  The only other change was OWLINTHETREE, whose rating was cut from 99 to 91.”

And for the SA Oaks it stated, “PRETTY BORDER (6th) goes up from 72 to 80 in order that she is not rated below last placed FARIHA, who remains unchanged on 80.” 

The reasons for the changes are made clear.

However, owners and trainers of the above horses might have been taken by surprise.

If any of these owners or trainers subsequently have a horse facing Doublemint in a handicap they will be justified in arguing that the latter horse finished just 3,50 lengths back in the Sun Met in 6th place yet remains on a lowly 104 merit rating. The five horses who finished ahead of him are now merit rated between 118 and 125 and he finished ahead of the 121 merit rated Oh Susanna.

The point is how consistently are the handicappers going to deviate from the guidelines and will owners and trainers know when to expect the deviations?

If the handicappers have carte blanche then the luxury owners and trainers have had since June 2012 of testing horses in Grade 1 and Grade 2s in the hope they are good enough might be over. From 2012 until this week they had been safe in the knowledge that failing to earn a cheque in such a race would at least ensure no upward adjustment to their horse’s merit rating.

On the other hand Moodley is one of the most respected handicappers in the country and it should be borne in mind that in its purest form the merit rating system has no restrictive guidelines. In England, for example, handicapping is done purely on the handicappers’ interpretations of the race.

With Moodley now in charge of the NHA and two equally knowledgeable stalwarts in Lennon Maharaj and Matthew Lips doing the handicapping, perhaps it is time more trust was placed in their own discretion and interpretations.

Their task at present is onerous. There is pressure on them to satisfy international committees that certain races deserve Grade 1 or Grade 2 status, but on the other hand they must pay heed to guidelines aimed at preventing horses from being unfairly punished.

However, punishment is relative and in protecting one band of horse, others must be getting punished.

Ultimately, handicapping done by the pure interpretation of handicappers who know what they are doing must surely be the best solution and Moodley, Maharaj and Lips do know what they are doing.

By David Thiselton

Leg 3 Triple Crown & Wilgerbosdrift Triple Tiara – Turffontein – 30 March 2019

• SA Derby (Grade 1)

After a thorough assessment and discussion between the NHA Handicappers, SAMURAI WARRIOR was given a merit rating of 105 following his front running victory under a masterful ride from Jockey Piere Strydom in the SA Derby (Grade 1) at Turffontein on Saturday 30 March 2019 over 2450m. Ironically he was the only participant in the race that had contested over this aptitude twice before and was also placed in the listed event.  The Handicappers are satisfied that the new rating is a fair reflection of SUMURAI WARRIOR’S performance and the race level is still 10 MR points below the international threshold for a Grade 1 race.

In analysing what appeared to be a race run at a slow pace, the handicappers were of the opinion that third placed MARCHINGONTOGETHER would not have run worse by finishing third at Grade 1 level than when he won a non-black type Feature at Scottsville in February.  Accordingly, it was this performance by MARCHINGONTOGETHER that was used as the line to rate the SA Derby.   This equates to MARCHINGONTOGETHER running to a rating of 102 in the Derby, and this is the rating that has been allocated to him.  Derby runner-up ZILLZAAL had his rating dropped from 106 to 105, thus making him equal to the winner.

Fourth placed ATYAAB’S rating remains unchanged on the 105 he was made after he won the Cape Derby two starts back.  As a recent Grade 1 winner who may not have been entirely suited to the pace at which the SA Derby was run, it is believed that it would be premature to drop his mark and for now we are happy to keep him on a rating higher than that of both the winner and the runner-up.

In other changes, SENOR LIZARD was raised from 85 to 88, ARLINGTONS REVENGE goes up from 80 to 84, MASTER MAGIC was raised from 80 to 84, ZANAKI goes up from 78 to 83, and LAST OF THE LEGEND was upped from 78 to 81.  These horses finished from 5^th place to 9^th, and in doing this it is ensured that these five horses would meet one another on the correct weight terms in a handicap race.  This satisfies the definition of a handicap.  The only other change was OWLINTHETREE, whose rating was cut from 99 to 91.

• H F Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes (Grade 1)

SOQRAT remains unchanged on a rating of 124 after his win in the Grade 1 Horse Chestnut Stakes over 1600m.  This performance confirms SOQRAT’S status as the  best three-year-old colt over 1600m presently in training, but it was felt that he by no means needed to improve on his 124 rating to win this race.   It was fourth placed TILBURY FORT who was used the line horse to rate this race.

The strength of the three-year-old crop was greatly underlined in the Horse Chestnut Stakes, with CIRILLO beaten less than one length into second and finishing well ahead of the older horses.  This looks to be an outstanding crop of three-year-old males, and in the wake of this performance CIRILLO’S rating has been upped from 111 to 114. 

The Handicappers took into consideration that UNAGI is a 5 year old that has not been able to win for almost 2 years and only adjusted him to 106 and not the 110 he achieved. In other changes, CASCAPEDIA was dropped from 110 to 109, LEGAL EAGLE had his rating cut from 120 to 118, AL DANZA drops to 104 from 106, and WILL PAYS is down from 114 to 112.

• Wilgerbosdrift S A Oaks (Grade 2)

RETURN FLIGHT was given a new rating of 106 after she comfortably won the Grade 2 Wilgerbosdrift  SA Oaks over 2450m under another extremely well-judged ride from Piere Strydom.  This represents a slight increase of one pound on the 105 rating she was given after she won the Grade 1 SA Fillies Classic.  In rating the Oaks, it was runner-up BLOSSOM who was used as the line horse and accordingly her rating remains unchanged on 103.  Third placed SEVILLE ORANGE was raised from 91 to 99, while fourth placed BIZE was upped from 79 to 97.  These two fillies were rated relative to fifth placed CHITENGO, so that the three would meet one another on the correct terms in a handicap race.  In other changes, SECOND REQUEST was dropped from 104 to 99, while PRETTY BORDER goes up from 72 to 80 in order that she is not rated below last placed FARIHA, who remains unchanged on 80.

Sean Tarry spoke about all of his runners for Saturday’s big meeting at Turffontein, where he has a full card and will try to make history with Legal Eagle. The latter will become the first horse since Pocket Power to win the same Grade 1 race four times in succession in South Africa if he lands the Grade 1 weight for age HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes.

Race 1: “Just My Luck may just need the run.”

Race 2: He said Silver Spectrum had scope and should enjoy the step up in trip.  

Race 3 (Grade 3 Pretty Polly Stakes 1100m): “Emerald Tiara is well and I expect a good run, she’s got a chance, but it will be hard to beat Fly Away and Gin Fizz.”

Race 4 (Grade 3 Protea Stakes 1100m): Cavivar. “They were a bit quicker than her last time so the extra 100m and the weight turnaround will help. I have the measure on how good she is against the colts here so it would have been silly to change back to the fillies’ race.”

Race 5 (Grade 3 Man O’War Sprint 1100m): Chimichuri Run. “He is well in with the males but he is still carrying 60kg and has to give weight away, but he is the best horse in the race. The low draw doesn’t really worry me, it depends on the day, although it is not ideal.”

Carbon Atom. “He has good form, the horse he was behind last time Mardi Gras came out and won a big race, so he must have some sort of chance. His work has been good and he is in good order. He is by Fort Wood but is taking after his dam Welwitschia (classy sprinter who stayed 1400m), although this 1100m would be at the bottom of his distance range.”

“Summer Afternoon is well weighted with some and should be competitive.”

Race 6 (Grade 1 HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes 1600m): Tarry believes Legal Eagle was flat on the day of the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate and added, “He is well. His Met race was a good run, he was 10^th at the 400m mark and ran just 2,25 lengths back. He had the same fractions over the last 400m as he had last year in a sprint so just came from too far back and it was a good effort. I’ve never had him fully wound up for this race. There has to be a balance as he was given a couple of weeks off after the Met before preparing him for this race, so he hasn’t had a prep and we cannot expect him to have him 100%, he is at about 90%.” However, that hasn’t stopped him in previous years and he goes for his fourth victory in a row in this race.

Cirillo – “I always thought he would stay a mile. In the Premier’s Champions Stakes at Greyville as a two-year-old he worked way too hard to get around from a bad draw. I have only tried a mile with him once since in the Cape Guineas and the horses between him and the winner, Twist Of Fate and One World, have franked the form. It is a big ask but worth a try.”    

Tilbury Fort – “He is a workmanlike horse who saves his best for race day. He is in a good space but it is hard to say he can beat them at level weights, although he has a lot more chance than a lot of the others. He could still be on the up, there could be improvement to come. I didn’t really know where to run him, there was a 2000m event coming up where he would have had to carry topweight. Running him in the Champions Challenge will get him a penalty for nothing for the July, so running him here could tell us where we are and which route to take.” 

Race 7 (Grade 2 Wilgerbosdrift SA Oaks 2450m): “Return Flight is a galloper who loves this galloping course. She is in good order and is a big runner. A mile is way to short for her now and 2000m is probably her perfect distance but I am confident she will see out this 2450m trip.”

“Second Request was a bit disappointing in the SA Fillies Classic but it was a very slow run race, she will prefer a harder run race and going 2450m should suit her, so she will be a runner.”

Race 8 (Grade 1 SA Derby 2450m): “Last Legend is a nice horse with quality and I think he will get the trip. This race may be too soon, but I think he will run a decent race.”

Zillzaal – “I was very disappointed in his SA Classic run, he was sweating up and cantering down with the pony didn’t work out well. I expect improvement. Hawwaam looks hard to beat but he has a chance of beating the rest of the field.”

Race 9 (Grade 3 Caradoc Gold Cup 2850m): “Wonderous Climber is not well weighted being 4kg out with Noble Secret and out with some others, so he is not running off his 85 merit rating which is a good mark for him and it is his first time over the distance. But he is very well, so whether I am throwing him in the deep end or not, I am not sure.”

Race 10 (Listed Jacaranda Handicap 1800m): Tambalang – “It is a tough race but I expect big improvement from her.”

“Jamra has the form to be a contender here but I am concerned the run comes too soon after her first run.”

Race 11 (1600m). Pilou. “He maybe did not go quick enough last time in the front (over 1800m). He is back to his best form distance and is in good order so should have a chance.”

Shenanigans. “It might come too quick after his comeback run and he might just need it from a fitness point of view.”   

Race 12 (1400m): Aurora Australis – “He wasn’t trying so I tried to keep him over the same course and distance for all of his runs and he might be looking for a bit further now. He comes from off them which makes it difficult for him, so the smaller field will suit him as he won’t have so much ground to make up. If he doesn’t shape I will switch him to a mile.”

By David Thiselton

Elusive Trader can defy joint top weight and beat his five older rivals in the Play Soccer Handicap at Durbanville tomorrow – and recent form suggests his chance is better than the 3-1 being offered by the bookmakers.

Greg Ennion’s charge, who has already earned R1 million more than his R300 000 purchase price, was raised six points for his second in the CTS 1200 but he ran above his new rating when four and a half lengths seventh of 14 to Kasimir in the Diadem and Sandile Mbhele’s 1.5kg claim is an added bonus.

The gelding has been to Durbanville before – he very nearly upset Pleasedtomeetyou in the Sophomore. You could argue that he needs a furlong further – he has only run over tomorrow’s trip on his first two starts (he won both) but at 3-1 you can’t have everything.

The one preferred by World Sports Betting (and probably by the other layers too when they post their prices) is the hat-trick-seeking Bwana who is 11-10 favourite but he has also been racing over further than this.

Aldo Domeyer’s best prospects – or at least the shortest priced of them -are for Andre Nel in the last two races but he can take races two and four for Candice Bass-Robinson and both are at more attractive odds.

Scottish Ally (33-10) was taking on hot company in a winner’s race won by the Grade 1-aimed Vandah’s Spirit on debut and ran a creditable fourth. That run suggests she can beat her six opponents in the TAB Telebet Juvenile Plate, the most promising of whom are 13-10 favourite Ibra (made a noise when running well first time, according to both the vet and her jockey) and 9-2 chance Lumiere who overcame a slow start on debut.  Cyber Blossom (9-2) has been running consistently well and should again get into the shake-up.

Cradleofgratitude, Domeyer’s mount in the Tellytrack.com Maiden (race five), is available at 9-2 despite beating all except a potentially smart sort in Scribner here three weeks ago. True, he is a four-year-old without a win (definitely a bad sign!) but he still makes the most appeal.

The opening Juvenile Plate is a tricky affair but Kamadeva looks too short at 16-10 and I prefer stable companion Mister Vargus at 33-10. The danger is probably Domeyer’s mount Minnesota Dream (3-1) whose previous win means he shoulders a 3kg penalty.

Bitter Lemon is 2-1 favourite for race four and should be able to reverse last time’s placings with Alfred’s Girl as Greg Cheyne’s mount came from a wide draw that day.

By Michael Clower

Duncan Howells holds five cards in a ten-card field in the Jonsson Workwear Handicap on the Greyville poly tonight. The trick here is to pick the trump card – if he has one that is.

Most likely is the three-year-old Beat It who took to the poly with a smart victory over the speedy Yaas last time out. Beat It is not the easiest and can be a little hot in the preliminaries but she does have ability and appears to have taken to the synthetic surface.

Biggest threats could come in the form of Diamond Noir and Queen Of Alamo. Diamond Noir scored a narrow victory on the poly last time out beating Petra. The runner-up had shown early promise but had lost form before showing what she is capable off last time out.

Queen Of Alamo found a rejuvenated Miss Frankel too hot to handle in her most recent start but started at long odds although her best form has come on the poly.

Of the stable companions to Beat It, Dawn Calling is the most accomplished of the Howells runners but drops to a sprint after contesting the Michael Roberts Handicap while Lunar Rush is always dangerous and has been dropping in the handicap. From a good draw she is far from out of this while Accidental Tourist is something of a poly track specialist and can upset.

On a tricky card, Garth Puller’s runner Mana Santana could provide a life-line for exotic bet punters in the Drakenstein Stud Maiden Plate. Mana Santana was a beaten favourite last run but is by far the highest rated runner in the race and has a claiming apprentice aboard that should further enhance his chances.

Fabian Habib makes his first trip to Greyville as a trainer when he saddles a pair of ‘eagles’. Kayla’s Eagle can make it a winning debut when she contests the Betting World Maiden, second on the card. Kaya’s Eagle has improved with every outing and looks primed for this event although she will face stiff opposition from the likes of Maket and Green Caviar.

Tana’s Eagle faces a more difficult task in the Hollywoodbets Handicap, last race on the card. It is a seriously tricky race and best advice may be to go as wide a finances permit in the exotics.

Apprentice Xola Jacobs has only managed a single win in his short career but is more than capable and with his 4kg claim, Sarabi makes a lot of appeal. She will only have 50.5kg on her back over her preferred course and distance. Jacobs was aboard Yaas when touched off by Beat It last time out and a repeat of that effort can see her turn the tables on Louis Goosen’s runner.

The Track & Ball Apprentice Handicap could provide a rocky start to the Pick 6 with any number of runners in with chances. Walterthepenniless has improved in blinkers and won well first time out of the maidens. He looks capable of further improvement and could again consign The Private to a runner-up berth in spite of Michael Roberts’s gelding going well over course and distance although from a good draw should be right there. Trust In Gold was a recent maiden winner but that form has since been franked. He is also lightly raced and can still improve. Finally, Don Pierro has his first run for a new stable. He is not the easiest and races in pacifiers for the first time but does have ability and a win would not come as a surprise.

• Owing to a high demand for barrier trials on the Scottsville turf, a third trial has been added to Sunday’s meeting. Please check amended times and fields.

By Andrew Harrison

The Turffontein meeting on Saturday has seven Graded and one Listed event and it includes the Grade 1 SA Derby over 2450m and the Grade 1 weight for age HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes over 1600m.

Hawwaam is the most exciting horse in South Africa and the only concern in the Derby is a tendency he had developed to over race, especially as he is drawn 15 out of 15. However, the past tense was used in the previous sentence as he settled well in the SA Classic last time with a customised bit and Matthew de Kock also said during the week, when discussing his “attitude”, “We seem to be winning the battle.” His rider Gavin Lerena is riding at the top of his game too. Mike de Kock clearly thinks very highly of this horse and twenty years on from Horse Chestnut’s exhilarating Derby win some will be anticipating the same.

Gift For The Gap has scope for plenty of improvement and ran on well to win the Derby Trial so could be the one to pick up the pieces, although on official merit ratings he does has a lot to do. Zillzaal looks tailor made for this race as he stays on resolutely so from a good draw he with a first time tongue tie on he should earn. Marchingontogether has come class and is well drawn and being out of a Montjeu mare he should stay. Last Of The Legend is a good looking sort who should stay and he has plenty of scope for improvement. Cape Derby winner Atyaab can also earn with blinkers on as he is capable of staying on well and should get the trip.

In the Horse Chestnut Stakes Legal Eagle usually runs well fresh and could put his flat L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate run behind him. He ran a cracker from off the pace in the Sun Met and is well drawn in his bid to win this trace for the fourth time in succession. Soqrat showed when winning the Cape Guineas and losing narrowly in the Queen’s Plate he has all the assets of a top racehorse from good temperament, good turn of foot and resolve and he is a worthy favourite. He got the run of the race in the Queen’s Plate when beating Legal Eagle by 3,75 lengths and has a fair draw again but not as good a draw as Legal Eagle’s. Cascapedia is coming into her own and this is probably her best course and distance so she can make her presence felt from pole position. Tilbury Fort could still be improving having won four out of seven starts since gelding and he showed last time when flying up over 1400m that he will be effective over this course and distance. Cirillo was beaten 3,50 lengths by Soqrat in the Cape Guineas which on paper puts him up with Legal Eagle and he can improve.

Return Flight should relish the 2450m course and distance of the Grade 2 Wilgerbosdrift SA Oaks. Her sire Pomodoro won the SA Derby and she appears to be taking more after him that her dam, who was by Special Preview and won from 1000m to 1400m. Blossom ran on well from off the pace in the SA Classic, despite a steady pace set by Return Flight, so looks likely to relish the course and distance and should be right there. She will be attempting to emulate her mother Cherry On The Top, who won this race when completing the Triple Tiara. Bize impressed when winning the Oaks Trial as she was caught wide throughout yet still managed to find extra effortlessly and won easily. She is unbeaten and could still be anything so is the dark horse. Chitengo is by SA Derby winner Elusive Fort out of Montjeu mare Gorongosa out of Grade 2 Gold Bowl (3200m) winner Gorongosa, so she will relish the trip. Seville Orange has shown signs of class and is improving all the time so she is contender to being by Duke Of Marmalade out of a Galileo mare. Fariha and Second Request also have claims on a race which is more open than the merit ratings suggest.    

Fly Away impressed on debut and comes out well on formlines in the Grade 3 Pretty Polly Stakes over 1100m, the first leg of the PA.

In the next race the Grade Protea Stakes over 1100m Frosted Gold and the filly Cavivar are classy types and could fight it out. 

By David Thiselton

The Pick 6 is always an attractive bet on the big race days and a big pool is expected again tomorrow.

In the first leg Frosted Gold stayed on courageously from an unfavourable draw over 1000m in the Storm Bird Stakes to share. He has a 5kg penalty in total for two wins but now has a plum Standside draw and will appreciate the extra 100m. The horse he shared with, Twilight Moon, had a favourable draw of nine out of ten in the Storm Bird and is now drawn five so can be excluded. Cavivar disappointed last time but now wears a tongue tie and jumps from a favourable draw of eight. She is 2kg better off with Frosted Gold for a 1,80 length beating and is the other one to include.

In the Grade 3 Man O’ War Sprint over 1100m the Grade 1 Allan Robertson winner Mighty High has trained on as a three-year-old and her draw of seven over this suitable trip is manageable. She is 1kg well in with Chimichuri Run according to official merit ratings. Chimichuri Run has to carry topweight but off his 112 merit rating is 3,5kg better off than any of the male runners. However, he might be better down the straight and he also has an unfavourable low draw of three, so others have to be considered. The filly All At Once is officially 2,5kg under sufferance with Mighty High. She beat Mighty High by a short-head last time over 1160m but is now 4kg worse off. However, she has beaten Mighty High twice and is relatively unexposed, so can be included from a plum Standside draw. Russian Prince is second best in of the male runners. He has speed and class and scope for plenty of improvement so from a nice high draw of eleven can be included. If Russian Prince is included then Topmast and Old Man Thyme have to be considered too on formlines. However, only Topmast need be included of the pair due to their respective draws.

The next race is the Grade 1 HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes and three horses can be included, the Cape Guineas winner Soqrat, pole position drawn Cascapedia, who has come into her own, and Legal Eagle, who is better than his flat run in the L’Ormarin’s Queen’s Plate.

The Grade 1 Wilgerbosdrift SA Oaks is next and the favourite Blossom must be included in her attempt to emulate her mother Cherry On The Top. However, this is a more open race than the merit ratings suggest and all of Return Flight, Bize, Second Request, Fariha, Seville Orange and Chitengo can be included over a trip unknown to any of the nine contestants.

Hawwaam has been priced up at 1/6 for the SA Derby. He settled well in the SA Classic after his bit had been tailored to suit him and if doing the same here is impossible to oppose. However, he is drawn 15 of 15 and in case he does over race then all of Zillzaal, Gift For The Gap, Marchingontogether and Last Of The Legend can be included as horses who have either caught the eye or who will relish the trip.

At this stage the perm is costing R1050 already if all the suggested horses have been included and there’s a tough stayers race to come.

Topweight Noble Secret looks to have the assets of a top class stayer, Wonderous Climber is progressive, and the pole position-drawn Sunshine Silk is distance proven and coming into her own, so they are the suggestions to get players through this last leg. However, it does have the potential for an upset so some would prefer to thin out the earlier legs and load up here.

By David Thiselton

Last year’s Met winner Oh Susanna has been installed 17-10 favourite by World Sports Betting for the Princess Charlene Empress Club Stakes at Turffontein on Saturday fortnight but seemingly punters should hold fire until such time as she is confirmed a runner.

Jono Snaith said yesterday: “There is nothing definite yet. We are still in discussions with Drakenstein.”

Second favourite at 3-1 is Cascapedia who finished down the field in last year’s race after over-racing and clipping heels. She is trained by Mike de Kock who also has the next in the betting, 11-2 shot Nafaayes, and has won seven of the last 13 runnings. The favourites has won three times in the last four seasons.

Aldo Domeyer has the strongest hand at Durbanville on Saturday according to the early betting. Three of his seven mounts are favourites and three are second favourites, with his strongest chances being for Andre Nel in the final two races. Last month’s Kenilworth winner Run Red is 12-10 for the Interbet.co.za Handicap and the hat-trick seeking Crome Yellow is 17-10 in the last.

By Michael Clower

When Al Jackman stepped into the paddock for his first barrier trial at Scottsville, big, black and imposing, he attracted immediate attention. ‘Big, scopey colt who towered above his rivals in what was a smart looking field. Jumped slow and very green. Could take time to come to hand,’ was the comment on his trial as he trailed in way behind the pack.

Nearly six months down the line and gelded in the interim, he stepped out at Greyville yesterday with a row of duck eggs in his formline.

But Wendy Whitehead has persevered and with the aid of ‘horse whisper’ Glyn Redgrave, Al Jackman has slowly found his feet.

Although still green and forcing Stuart Randolph to earn his riding fee, he stuck to his guns to edge out Cassius Colt in a desperate finish.

“He’s got it this horse,” said Whitehead. “It’s his temperament. He gets to the races perfect but when he gets to the back he drips with sweat.

“He’s just very immature but he has found a character. He has matured and is coming out of his shell.”

It was not the strongest maiden fields but the step up to 1900m and according to Randolph, “the penny has not quite dropped yet,” there is still a future for owners Geoff Perkins, Mark Christensen and Michael Sinnema.

Third-placed Charlie McCreevy gave Mark Khan a torrid time, clipping heels and then running around like a drunk on his way home from the pub. That he managed third was something of a miracle.

It has taken some time for the penny to drop with apprentice Jason Gates but he appears to have finally cottoned on to the fact that his is not the only horse in the race.

Gates has a ton of ability and Louis Goosen, who takes no prisoners, is one trainer who has taken him under his wing. The partnership is bearing fruit as Gates rode a smart finish on the big gelding Di Mazzio in the second. Tracking the pace, Gates produce his mount with a perfectly time run and kept him hard at it to the line as he was challenged by a fast-closing So Var and Kingsmead, who certainly knew he had been in a race!

There is a wave of opposition to barrier trials, the general consensus being that they are a waste of time and money, but they do give some insight, especially to those who know what they are watching – and its generally not the ‘winner’.

A ‘solid quality filly. Went well without a push. One to follow,’ was the comment on Naoshima’s trial at Scottsville and it proved on the mark yesterday as Dennis Drier’s filly won well under Sean Veale.

Eric Buhr has been around for longer than he would probably care to remember but his orange and purple silks are a familiar part of KZN racing and Naoshima’s success marked his ninetieth winner.

In partnership with Buhr is the Wild Child Racing Syndicate many of whom were having their first winner after a disastrous start to their racehorse ownership, their first horse having got loose at Summerveld before her first outing, never to see a racecourse.

Drier appears to have high hopes for their replacement as the daughter of the once Drier-trained Master Of My Fate kicked clear in the first to win well.

Given Drier’s record with juveniles, it would not come as a surprise to see Naoshima’s name appear among the nominations for the Gr1 Allan Robertson Championship at Scottsville, May 25, come Champions Season.

Lyle Hewitson is making steady inroads into Anton Marcus’s lead in the jockey championship and edged another winner closer as he steered the diminutive Jamaican Bay to a decisive victory in the fourth for Doug Campbell.

Hewitson has been penciled in behind the name of Legal Eagle in the Gr1 HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes at Turffontein on Saturday with Marcus watching from Dubai where he is due to partner Majestic Mambo in the Gr1 Jebel Hatta over 1800m on the Meydan turf.

By Andrew Harrison